Google Earth for Environment Lookout

Have you tried Google Earth? This free software by Google is quite fascinating. With Google Earth's ability to scan detailed images of the planet anyone can become a lookout on what is happening to our environment anywhere. Even lower quality coverage provides enough detail to see where logging, mining, and building is going on, in even the most remote locations. While Google Earth has recently added before and after mash ups provided by the United Nations Environment Programme, this is about as far as they go and the ability to do investigative work is left up to the end user in most cases.